Phonograph



y 1 3 J. M. LUCARELLE ET AL PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. is, 1924- 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS JaSEP/l M. Ll/C/IRHLE *JOl/IV BEEN/10w BY- k ai y 1930- Y J. LUCARELLE ET AL- 1,759,654

PHONOGRAPH I 'Filed Aug. 15, 1924 4 Shets-Sheet 2- 0 629 f 23 4 47 u I l G 3 v I J \I A ORNEY y 1930. J. LUCARELLE ET AL PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheet s-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 15, 1924 INVEN TO Rs J 0553! M MIC/ BELLE VJ'GIIIVE RE/VHOLDT.

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ATTORNEY May 20, 1930. J. M. 'LUCARELLE El AL 1,759,654

PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. 15, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F, a v

.97 A ORNEY Patented May 20, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPlE M. LUCARELLE, OF BRIDGEPORT, ANDv JOHN E. RENHOLDT, OF STRATFOBD,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO DICTAIPHONE CORPORATION, NEC'IICU'I, CORPORATION NEW YORK OF BBIDGEPOBT, CON- PHONOGRAPH Application filed August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731,795.

This invention relates to dictating machines and in a more specific aspect, to dictating machines of the transcriber type.

An object of the invention is to facilitate operation of the device, to improve its performance and to decrease the assembling cost of the device.

I In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of this invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the carriage of a transcribing machine and certain features of the present inventionin detail.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of parts of the back-space mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a carriage for a transcribing machine, showing the invention embodied therein.

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4, but shows the parts in operated positions.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing several of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view partly in section of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7.

Fig.- 9 is a sectional plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8' taken on the line 33 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a side View, partly in section, and shows the releasing lever in position raising the stylus from the record and disengaging the feed-nut from the feed-screw.

The phonographic machine shown in the accompanying drawing for the purpose of illustrating this invention, is a -transcribing machine and, as may be seen in Fig. 4, comprises a base 10 having upstanding arms 11 adapted to carry a front guide-rod 12 and arms 13 adapted to carry a rear guide-rod 14. Slidably mounted upon the guide-rods 12 and 14 is a carriage 15 having a head 16 adapted to For the purpose of doing) support the sound-box 17 for reproducing the sound recorded on a record.

The sound-box 17 is provided with a diaphragm 18 connected by a wire 19 to a lever 20 carrying on its rearward arm a ball-shaped stylus 21 which engages the record 22 carried by a mandrel 23.

For the purposes of allowing the stylus to move to and from the record to accommodate itself to records of different thicknesses, the stylus lever 20 is pivoted at 24 upon arms 25 carried by a lever 26, which has a horizontal pivot 27. The wire 19 connects the end of the stylus-lever 20 with the diaphragm and maintains a connection between the diaphragm and the stylus-lever in all positions of the latter with respect to the former.

To allow the stylus 21 to freely track the record, that is, follow the grooves of the record, the horizontal pin 27 of the lever 26 is mounted upon a bracket or support 29 provided with a vertically disposed pivot 30 mounted on the sound-box casing 16. The

pivot 30 is located at right angles to the pivot 27 and allows the lever 26 with its stylus lever 20 to swing laterally in following the grooves of the record. The upper end of the pivot 30 has a bearing in a housing 31 on the head 16 to receive it, and the lower end is held by a bracket 32 secured to the sound box casmg.

In addition to the function above described, the horizontal pivot 27 of the lever 26 allows the lever with the stylus-lever and stylus to be raised from record-engaging position. this, when the sound-box carriage 15 is to e moved for any large extent over the record, and when it is desired to remove the record from the machine and place another'record upon the machine, the lever 26 is provided with an arm 33 adapted to be en aged by an arm or projec-. tion 34 of a releaslng lever 35.

This releasing lever 35 is so arranged that when its forward end is raised, its rearward arm 34 engages the arm 33 of the lever 26 carrying the stylus-lever and raises the stylus from the record surface. At the same time, the arm 34 of the releasing lever engages an arm 36 forming part of a feed-nut 37 which ing mechanism. The nut 37 is plvotally mounted on the frame of the carriage 15 at 39 so that when its arm 36 is rocked rearwardly by the operation of the carriage releasing lever 35, the nut 37 will be raised from engagement with the. screw shaft 38, as shown in Fig. 11. When the releasing lever 35 is released andallowed to move to its lower position, the lever 26 is allowed to fall, due to. its own weight and assisted by a spring 40, until the stylus engages the record. This spring 40 is connected at one end to the lever 26 and at the other end to a downwardly extending ear 41 of the support 29 which carries the lever 26 for horizontal rocking or tracking movements. This means for releasing the feed nut and raising the stylus is shown and described more fully in the patent to Mac- Donald No. 1,030,740, June 25, 1912, to. which reference may be had for a more complete explanation. 4

To move the carriage backwardly a small extent, as when it is desired to repeat the dictation just heard to verify it, the carriage is moved by back-space mechanism comprising a back-space lever 42. This lever is mounted upon a tubular bearing 43 secured in the carriage 15, and is provided at its top portion with a lug 44 pivotally carrying a.

pawl 45. When the back space lever 42 is operated, the pawl 45 engages a rack 46 secured to the forward arms 11 and forces the carriage backwardly a predetermined amount. To back space the carriage in excess of this amount, the back-space lever 42 is repeatedly operated.

According to this invention, this back spacing movement of the carriage 15 iseffected without causing the stylus 21 to be raised from and then dropped upon the record surface, which operation produces in the operators ears a loud and unpleasant noise. Therefore, the back-space lever 42 is not, as heretofore, arranged so'as to raise the stylus 21 from the record surface during thebackspacing operation. Because of its freedom of lateral movement heretofore, the stylus would not necessarily follow the carriage in its movement, but instead would lag behind the carriage and thus would not be back-spaced v at all. However, this disadvantage has been overcome by the present invention by providing means for holding the stylus in a predetermined position during back-spacing operations, without, however, raisin'g the stylusfrom the record surface.

' Thismeans, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inv elusive, comprises a detent or catch 47 which is V-shaped to engage a companion lug 48 provided on the member 29 which carries the lever 26 for horizontal or tracking movement about the vertical pivot 30. The catch or detent 47 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed integral with a spring-member 49 mounted on the carriage 15 and adapted to be held against movement by screws 50 and 51. Substantially midway between the screw 50 and the catch 47 thespring 49 is provided with an outwardly extending arm 52 by means of which the spring 49 may be operated to move the catch 47 into engagement with the lug 48.

This arm 52 of the catch-carrying spring 49 is preferably operated 'by the arm 36 of the nut 37, since the latter is as usual removed from the feed-screw 38 during the back-spacing movements of the carriage to allow the carriage to move backwardly. This is accomplished by providing the nut 37 with an arm 53 adapted to engage a notch 54 provided in a sleeve 55 secured to the back-space lever 42, and adapted to turn upon the sleeve 43 secured to the carriage 19. The arm 53 is connected to the nut 37 by means of a squared shoulder 56 formed upon the pivot 39 for the nut.

When the back-space lever 42 is depressed to retract the carriage 15, the arm 36 is rocked rearwardly, rocking the nut so as to remove it from the feed-screw 38. At the same time the upper end of the arm 36 engages the 'arm 52 the latter in predetermined centralized position with respect to the diaphragm while the stylus rides over the record-surface.

It should be noted that the catch 47 and lug 48 are entirelyout of engagement with each other at all times except when backspacing. Hence, these parts do not interfere with the regular and proper tracking of the record by the stylus.

Accurate adjustments between the catch 47 and the nut arm 36 are preferably effected by bending the arm 52 of the spring either toward or from the arm 36; a simple and inexpensive operation.

For the purpose of adjusting the lateral position of. the detent or catch 47 with respect of the V-shaped lug 48 on the member 29 which it engages, so that the relocation of the stylus will be truly central with respect of the diaphragm, to avoid so refining the processes of manufacture of the device as to render its production prohibitive, the entire spring 49 is adjustable about the screw 50. The screws 50 v spring during the adjusting operation its lower end isprovided with a notch 58' directly above a notch or aperture 59 inthe carriage frame 15. A screw driver blade or other similar tool may be inserted in notch 59 through the notch 58 of the spring and feed-"screw 38 and the lever 73 withdraws its 1 turned, thereby turning the spring 49 upon the pivot screw 50. In this way very fine adjustments can cility, and it is not ture of the device, to so reduce the tolerances that the cost of the device would be excessive if not prohibitive.

Lateral movement of the st lus lever 26 is limited beyond the range 0 free tracking movement by a guide 67 mountd on the carriage and which is engaged by a pin 68 carried by the lever 26.

Instead of providing means for centralizing the stylus each time the carriage is backspaced such as is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the machine may be providedwith means for antomatically and rigidly holding the stylus on the carriage during the back-space movement in whatever position it may have as sumed before the back-spacing operation commenced. This may be done so that, irrespective of the position of the stylus with regard to the diaphragm at the start, the stylus will be back-spaced a predetermined amount at each and every back-spacing operation.

One means for accomplishingrthis result is disclosed in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 in which figures the parts which are the same as in Figs. 1 to 5, have the same reference numerals. In this case the brackets or support 29 is provided with an arm 71 curved to extend around the wire 19 connecting the stylus lever and the diaphragm, so that its end 72 will be as far as it is conveniently possible from the pivot point of the bracket. Coacting with the end 72 of the arm 71 is a lever' 73 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the forward part of the carriage. The lever 73 has a pair of arms 74 each having upturned cars 75 adapted to receive pins 76 which also pass through upturned ears" 77 of a bracket 78 adapted to be secured to .the carriage at its front end by screws 79. The arms 74 of the lever 73 are-inter-connected by a crossbar 80 to which is secured a spring member 81 which, like the tongue 52 in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, is adapted to be engaged bythe arm 36 of the feed-nut 37.

When the feed-nut 37 is raised from engagement with the feed-screw 38, the arm 36 engages the spring-member 81' and rocks the arm 74 of the lever 73 rearwardly so that the end 82 of the lever 73 engages the end 72 of the arm 71 forming part of the supporting bracket 29 (See Figs. 7 and s The eflect 6r this is to hold the bracket 29 in whatever position itassumes before the feed-nut 37 is removed from the feed-screw 38, and it so holds the bracket and stylus carried thereby during the back-spacing movement which is performed by the pawl 45 which engages the rack 46.

When the back-space key-lever 42 is released, the nut 37 is allowed to re-engage the be effected with ease and fa-' necessary in the manufacform of this invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 end,'82 from engagement with the end 72 of the lever 71 and allows free movement of the bracket 29 during the tracking of the record.

If desired, the spring member 49 in the inclusive and in Figs. 9 and 11 may be pro vided with a flat surface instead of the V- shaped catch 47, so as to hold the stylus in whatever position it assumed before the backspacing operation commences. However, the

the form shown in Figs. 6 to 8 is preferable at invention not only provides means for accu rately and certainly centralizing-the stylus every time the back-spacer is operated, but

also provides means for holding the stylus during the back-spacing operation in whatever position it may have assumed before the back-spacing operation took place.

When the back-space lever 42 is released, it

is returned to itsnormal'position by means of a spring 60 located in a cutout portion 61 of the back-space lever and abutting atone end upon a shoulder 62 on the back-spacelever and at the other end against a shoulder 63 provided upon a split collar 64 which is employed to retain the back-space lever with its sleeve 55 upon the sleeve 43 of the carriage. The compression of this spring is effected on the depression of the back-space lever 42, so that when the manual pressure is released from the lever, the spring 60 will return the lever to the position shown in Fig. 4. Heretofore, in'similar means for holding the backspace key upon its sleeve the securing collar was made in one piece and its position was determined by means of a set-screw. In such cases it was difficult so to secure the collar upon the sleeve 43 by this means.

- .The present invention, therefore, provides a splitcollar, the opposite sides of which may be securely clamped upon the sleeve 43 by the application of a screw 65 connecting the opposite legs'of the split collar.

l Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others. 7 V

What is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is

1. A sound-reproducer comprising a record-engaging stylus; means for supporting said stylus capable of allowing the stylus to move along the record surface to properly track the record and means for automatically and predetermine'dly positioningsaid sty- 'gagmg stylus connected to the diaphragm and having 'a range of movement relative to the dlaphragm-sup'port in which to track the record; and means for automatically. and pre-' determinedly positioning said stylus within said range of movement without removing the stylus from the record.

4. In combination, a diaphragm; a recorden'gaging stylus having vibration-transmitting connection to the diaphragm; a carriage and means for moving the stylus to a predetermined position with respect of the carriage without moving the stylusfrom the record. v

5; In a dictation machine, a carriage; a reproducing stylus mounted in the carriage and having tracking freedom of movement relative to the carriage along a grooved record-surface; means for back-spacing the carand means for causing the stylus to.

riagie, bac -space simultaneously with the carriage over the record-surface and, while continual- 1y engaged therewith. I

6. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a

reproducing stylus mounted in the carriage and having tracking freedom of movement.

relative to the carriage along a grooved. record-surface; means for back-spacing the carriage; and means for rendering the stylus incapable of tracking freedom of movement during the o eration of the back-spacing means, the stylus traveling over, but remaining in engagement with, the record-surface during back-spacing movements of the carriage.

7. In a dictation machine, a carriage, a stylus mounted in the carriage and havin tracking freedom of movement relative to the carriage along a grooved record-surface;

means for back-spacing the carriage; and

means for clam ing said stylus against tracking' freedom 0 movement during the opera tion of the back-spacing means.

8. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a

stylus mounted in the carriage and having tracking freedom of movement relative to the carriage along a grooved record-surface; means for back-spacing the carriage; and adjustable means for holding the stylus in predetermined position with respect to the carriage during back-space movements of the latter, the stylus remaining in engagement with the record-surface durlng back-spacing movements and riding over the grooves. of the record-surface.

9. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a stylus mounted in the carriage and having tracking freedom of movement relative to the carriage along a grooved record-surface; means for back-spacing the carriage; and means for holding the stylus in predetermined position with respect to the carriage during backspace movements of the latter, the stylus remaining in engagement with the record-surface during back-spacin movements and riding over the grooves o the record-surface.

10. A s'ound-reproducer'comprising a record engaging stylus; means for supporting said stylus capable of allowing the stylus to move relative to its support to properly track the record; and means for supporting the stylus against such freedom of movement at a predetermined time.

11. A sound-reproducer comprising a diaphragm; a support therefor; a record engaging stylus connected to the diaphragm. and having a range of movement relative to the diaphragm-support in which #30 track the record; and means for holding said st lus against such movement, at a predetermined time.

12. In combination, a diaphragm; record- 'engaging means having vibration transmittin connection to the diaphragm; a carriage; an means for holding the record-engaging means in a predetermmed position with re.- spect to the carriage and diaphragm, at a predetermined time.

13. In a dictating machine, a carriage a stylus mounted on the carriage and havin tracln'ng freedom of movement on a groove record-surface; means for back-spacing the carriage; andmeans for holding the stylus against such freedom of movement on the carriage during the operation of the backspacing means. 4

14. In combination, a frame; a sound-box carriage mounted on said frame; a recordengaging stylus mounted in said carriage and capable of record-tracking movement relag tive to said carriage; means for back-spacing .the, carriage while allowing the stylus to remain in engagement with the record;'and means operatedby the last-named means for I holding the stylus against the said recordtracking movements in the carriage during the back-spacing movement of the carriage. 15. In combination, a frame; a sound-box carriage mounted on the frame; a recordcapable of record-tracking movements relative to the carriage; a lever for back-spacing the sound-box carriage while allowing thestylus to remain in engagement with the record; stylus position controlling means; and means comprising a resilient member and engaging stylus mounted in the carriage and stylus to remain inengagement with the record; and a clamping device comprising companion parts, one of which is connected to the stylus and'mounted for movement with the stylus in its record-tracking movements,

, and the other of which is fixed against said tracking movement, said parts upon.engage-' ment with each other being adapted to hold the stylus against trackin movement.

17. In combination, a ame; a sound-box carriage mounted in the frame; a record-engaging stylus mounted in the carriage and capable of 'record-tracking movements relative to the carriage; means for back-spacing the sound-box carriage while allowing the stylus to remain in engagement with the record; a clamping device comprising companion parts, one of which is connected to the stylus and mounted for movement with the stylus in its record-tracking movements, and the other of which is fixed against said tracking movements, said parts upon engagement with each other being adapted to hold the stylus against tracking movements; and .means operated by the back-spacing means for causing said parts to engage during backspacing movements of'the carriage.

18. In combination, a frame; a sound-box carriage mounted onthe frame; a record-engaging stylus mounted in the carriage and capable of record-tracking movements relative to the carriage; means for back-spacing the sound-box carriage while allowing the stylus to remain in engagement with the record; a clamping device comprising companion parts, one of which is connected to the stylus and mounted for movement with the stylus in its record-tracking movements,

and the other of which is fixed against said tracking movements, said parts upon engagement with each other being adapted to hold the stylus against trackingmovement; and means comprising a resilient member and operated by the back-spacing means for causing said parts to en age during the backspacin movements 0 g the carriage.

19. n a phonograph, the combination of a support for a record; sound reproducing means comprising a stylus mounted for a range of freelateral movement in which to track the record; means for shifting said stylus backwardly towards the beginning of the record by' causing the same to skid or glide over the surface of the record; and means actuated independently of the bodily movement of said sound-reproducing means and operated by the means for shiftingthe I stylus backwardly for causing the stulus to the record b causing the same to skidiqr. glide over t e surface of the record; and

means actuated independently of the bodily movement of the sound-reproducin means and operated by the means for shi ing the latter backwardly for causing the stylus to assume a predetermined position in said range of free lateral movement, said position being determined previously by the location of this last-named means with relation to the sound-reproducing means.

21. In a phonograph, the combination of a support for a record; sound-reproducing means comprising a' stylus mounted for a range of free lateral movement in which to track the record; means for shifting said stylus backwardly towards the beginning of the recordby causing the same to skid or glide overthe surface of-the record; and means actuated independently of the movement of the sound-reproducin means and operated by the means for shifting the latter backwardly for causing the stylus to assume a predetermined position in said range of free lateral movement, said predetermined po'sitionbeing controlled by the location of the last-named means with relation to the sound-reproducing means and said .lastnamed means being adjustable to vary the location of said predetermined position so that upon repeated operation of the stylus returning means said last-named means will 22. Ina phonograph, the combination of a support for 'a record; sound-reproducing means comprising a stylus mounted for a range of free lateral movement in which to track the record; and means adapted to first cause the stylus to assume a central position with relation to the sound-reproducing means and then to shift the stylus backwardly toward the beginning of the record by causing the same to glide or-skidover the record surface, said centralizing means operating to shift the stylus without lifting the same from the record.

23. In a dictation machine, the combination of a carriage; recordsengaging means carried by the carriage and having tracking f reedom of movement relative to the carriage along a record-surface, and freedom of movement relativeto the carriage toward and from the record surfaces; means for back-spacing the carriage -while allowing the stylus to glide over the record-surface; and means for holding the stylus against tracking freedom of movement and permitting movement of the stylus toward and from the. record surface during the back-spacing of the carriage.

- carried by the carriage and having tracking freedom of movement relative to the carriage along a record-surface, and freedom of movement relative to the carriage toward and from the record surface; means. for backspacing the carriage without raising the stylus from the record; and means for causing the stylus to be in a definite and predetermined position relative to the carriage at the completion of the back-spacing operation, said means permitting movement of the stylus relative to the carriage toward and from the record surface during backward gliding movement thereof over the recordsurface.

. Si ed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fair eld, and State of Connecticut, this 11th day of'August, 1924.

JOSEPH M. LUCARELLE.

JOHN 'E. RENI-IOLDT.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1, 759, 654. Granted May 20, 1930, to

JOSEPH M. LUCARELLE ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page'4, line 104, claim 13, after'the word "movement" strike out the word "on" and insert instead "relative to the carriage along"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Office. g

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of July, A. D. 1930.

Wm. A. Kinnan, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

(Seal) 

